Palestine: Palestine on Saturday welcomed the declaration issued at the weekend summit of the BRICS grouping of 11 countries, praising its positions in support of the rights of the Palestinian people and the Palestinian cause.
According to Anadolu Agency, the Palestinian Foreign Ministry expressed its approval of the declaration from the New Delhi summit, highlighting its rejection of attempts to forcibly displace Palestinians from their land, including Jerusalem. The declaration also calls for an end to Israeli occupation, reaffirms the commitment to a two-state solution, and supports the full UN membership of the state of Palestine.
The statement also acknowledged the declaration's support for the UN agency for Palestinian refugees (UNRWA) and its mandate. It emphasized the importance of protecting holy sites, ensuring access to them in Jerusalem, safeguarding the Palestinian people, and ensuring the unhindered delivery of humanitarian aid to the Gaza Strip.
The ministry asserted that these positions align with international law and relevant UN resolutions, urging that they be translated into practical steps. It called on the international community to uphold its legal and political responsibilities to implement international legitimacy resolutions. This includes ending crimes and violations by the Israeli occupation and protecting the Palestinian people's rights, particularly their right to self-determination.
The ministry stressed that the implementation of the BRICS declaration requires ending the Israeli occupation and enabling Palestinians to establish an independent and sovereign state with Jerusalem as its capital.
Earlier on Saturday, the final declaration from the BRICS leaders' summit opposed the forced displacement of Palestinians from Gaza and the occupied West Bank. The joint declaration urged respect for UN Security Council resolutions concerning Gaza and called for preserving the ceasefire in the Gaza Strip and the unhindered delivery of humanitarian aid.
Expressing concern over continued violence despite last October's ceasefire, the declaration called for an end to policies aimed at the forced displacement of Palestinians. It warned against arrangements that could undermine Palestinian rights or legitimize the occupation.
The declaration reaffirmed support for the State of Palestine's full UN membership and called for an urgent resolution to the Palestinian issue. BRICS, originally composed of Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa, has expanded to include Egypt, Ethiopia, Indonesia, Iran, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates, representing about half of the world's population and around 40% of global economic output. The 18th BRICS Leaders Summit is set to conclude on Sunday.